TV Patrol: FOOD Network Scores in 2010 Ratings.

Iron Chef America on Food Network, had it’s highest ratings in it’s history. It came in at #23 in the cable ratings, which was dominated by football. Over 7 million viewers tuned in for the Super Chef Battle on Sunday night. Mario Batali teamed up with Emeril Lagasse to take on Bobby Flay & the current White House chef, Cristeta Comerford, in a two hour challenge. First Lady Michelle Obama was on hand to unveil the “secret ingredient” for the event. “Anything from the White House garden.” Mrs. Obama started this garden to promote eating healthy with lots of veggies in your diet. She emphasized the first family’s love of sweet potatoes. This must be the reason Mario showed up to meet her wearing orange clogs with matching socks & no pants, which went quite well with her orange housewife dress. This contest, with all it’s deep frying & cream sauces, was anything but healthy! In the end Flay & Comerford win the challenge by 5 points. Lets move on…..

Food Network’s new series, Worst Cooks in America was also a huge ratings success with over 4 million viewers. The concept of turning 12 totally “useless-in-the-kitchen” cooks into chefs in just 10 days was highly anticipated & turned out to be entertaining too. The elimination-style reality show has a final prize of $25,000. Two of the lamest cooks served the judges canned soup. One garnished it with shredded cheese & the other combined 4 different kinds into one bowl. They were both eliminated. Hell, I serve that to my family all the time, but with crackers on the side.

Cable networks have been flourishing over the holidays, but ESPN’s broadcasts of NFL & College football took the top eight spots in the ratings. WWE Raw rounded out the list at #8 & #9. Sponge Bob came in at #10. Ray Romano’s new “dramedy”, Men of a Certain Age was #131. What does that tell ya? I’ve watched it twice & without Romano, the show would be pretty good. He needs to replace himself with someone who can act.

Network shows not normally seen on the “Top Twenty” list were a welcome surprise. The Simpsons & Family Guy both had new episodes on FOX & came in at #16 & #18. Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve proved to be the winner in bringing in 2010 at #17. I couldn’t understand a word Dick Clark said, but bless his heart for trying.

Here is Mr. Nielson’s “Top Twenty” list for the week of Dec. 28-Jan. 3:

1. Sunday Night Football: Bengal/Jets NBC 16.3 million
2. Allstate Sugar Bowl: Florida/Cincinnati FOX 15.5 million
3. Desperate Housewives ABC 15.3 million
4. 60 Minutes CBS 14.8 million
5. NCIS (repeat) CBS 12.9 million
6. Two and a Half Men (repeat) CBS 11.1 million
7. Criminal Minds (repeat) CBS 11.1 million
8. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ABC 11 million
9. CSI: NY (repeat) CBS 10.9 million
10. Brothers & Sisters ABC 10.8 million
11. America’s Funniest Home Videos ABC 10.2 million
12. The Big Bang Theory (repeat) CBS 9.9 million
13. NCIS (repeat) CBS 9.9 million
14. Kennedy Center Honors CBS 9.6 million
15. CSI: Miami (repeat) CBS 9.5 million
16. The Simpsons FOX 8.6 million
17. Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest ABC 8.2 million
18. Family Guy FOX 8.2 million
19. 20/20 ABC 8 million
20. The Mentalist (repeat) CBS 7.9 million

Next week should be back to business as usual with CBS dominating the list once again. All new episodes for all the network shows & some new ones added could mix it up a bit… but I doubt it. I predict that NCIS will reclaim it’s #1 spot.

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